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Terri J. Van Dyke
STONEWALL
Rebellion Veterans Association
Charter S.V.A. Executive Committee Member
(since 1969)
  S.V.A. Treasurer (1984-2003)
                                                                                               
terri_van-dyke.jpg (187556 bytes)

Terri Van Dyke in a NYC Gay Parade car w/ S.V.A. for "SW-28" in 1997
(Terri is wearing a "Buckingham Palace, London, England" t-shirt)
[Photo by Farrell Armstrong]

Terri J. Van Dyke, a "Native New Yorker" (just like the original Frankie Valli song), was born on November 23, 1948, in Manhattan, New York City, at East Houston Street and Avenue D (as in "Drag" queen).  In the summer of 1962 during a heat wave, his abusive, over-the-top, divorced mother threw him "out in the streets" at the very young and vulnerable age of 13.  Terri remembered, "A few years later, my favorite girl group, The Shangri-Las, came out with a chilling song called "Out In The Streets".  As soon as I heard it, I said:  That's me!"  Ironically, 30 years later, that song was included in the wonderful Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender ("G.L.B.T.") full-length feature movie "Stonewall" (1996).  Terri was at the premiere of the film in Manhattan, NY with his longtime special friend Willson L. Henderson, who was the Stonewall consultant on the movie.  They arrived, along with Queen Allyson, Rayette McCaffrey and Leigh McManus, in the historic, metallic blue 1969 open-convertible popularly known as the  "Stonewall Car".

 


Terri Van Dyke at Judy Garland's Masoleum in Westchester in 1989
[Photo by Stonewall veteran Jeremiah Jay Newton]

Why did Terri Van Dyke's mother toss him out?  Why else?  "I remember well one time when I was about six years old, my Mother regularly took me to the neighborhood playground.  The cute boy, Jimmy, from next door was there with his nice mother.  We were playing in the sandbox with a bunch of fun toys.  I kissed the boy!  Although it was probably his first time, it wasn't mine.   He liked what I did and I did it again (and again).  His mother didn't care about an innocent gesture from another child.  But, my Mother -- and I recall this vividly -- loudly declared:  "It's time for me to get another child".  In less than a year, my troublesome sister Melissa was born.  Fasten your seat belts!  My Mother lived to regret that wish!"  Seven years later, after his high-anxiety Mother gave him the real "86", Terri bummed a dime and called one of his "trix", who soon got him his own walk-up tenement flat on Spring Street on the Lower East Side.  In the meantime, as an under-aged youth, he stayed with another older male trick.  And to give Terri some sense of "family", yet another trick bought him a miniature collie dog that he gayly named "Butch".  From that time, through the Stonewall Era, until 1974, Terri lived life vivaciously and precariously as a woman!  Terri has uniquely lived every part of "G-L-B-T"!  
 



Stonwwall vets Jeremiah Newton and Terri V.D. on a Bus Trip to Atlantic City in 1992
[Photo courtesy of G.M.H.C. organization]

Terri and his longtime friend and fellow Stonewall veteran Jeremiah Newton used to make regular trips from New York City to Atlantic City, New Jersey.  These happy excursions were sponsored by the Gay Men's Health Crisis ("GMHC").


Terri J. was elected Treasurer of the STONEWALL Rebellion Veterans Association ("S.V.A.") as of "Stonewall 25" in June of 1994.  He has been unanimously re-elected every year as S.V.A. Treasurer for ten years through his demise in late 2003.

 


Terri Van Dyke and the Duchess Rayette at The STONEWALL Club
[Photo by SVA's Electra O'Mara]

Terri Van Dyke at an SVA-sponsored "Stonewall Showtyme" at the Stonewall Cabaret Room, located directly above The STONEWALL Club main floor, in 1998, with good friend Duchess Rayette McCarefree of the Imperial QUEENS & Kings of Greater New York.

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The Imperial Princess Jenni and S.V.A. Treasurer Terri after the NYC Gay Parade
[Photo by Leigh McManus]

Pictured above (l-2-r) are:  Princess Jenni June, Vice-President of the Imperial QUEENS & Kings of Greater New York, with Terri Van Dyke.  The scene is after the "New York City 32nd annual Gay Pride Parade", which the S.V.A. led, on Sunday, June 24, 2001, at the Hudson Corner Cafe for the annual "S.V.A. Stonewall Sunday Brunch".  In left background is Greg Lambert (with blue cap), the G.L.B.T. liaison of U.S. Congressmember Carolyn J. Maloney, who also marched in the Gay Parade with the S.V.A. and was present at the always fun S.V.A. brunch.




Terri and the Blonde Pack
[Photo by Liz Abzug]

Just five days before the notorious "September 11th, 2001" terrorist attacks in Manhattan, shown above are (l-2-r):  Willson L. Henderson, president of S.V.A.; Jenni June Egan, Vice-President of the IQKNY; Ray J. McCaffrey, Financial Secretary of the S.V.A.; and Terri Van Dyke, Treasurer of the S.V.A., at a wonderful, pre-Election Day political party for New York City Council (District 1) candidate Elana W. Posner on Thursday, September 6, 2001 in Manhattan.  Ironically, it took place at a beautiful loft apartment in the World Trade Center area.  Terri gave a very civic and moving speech at the event about the upcoming New York City Primary Day Election on September 11th.  Terri worked part-time for any election day for the N.Y.C. Board of Elections.  Unfortunately and sadly, said elections had to be cancelled and postponed for two weeks due to the extremist Islamic terror attacks on the World Trade Center's Twin Towers on Tuesday, September 11th, 2001!  Terri was working at a New York City election polling place uptown in Manhattan when the terrorist attacks occurred in the very same town!  The election site was then totally closed.  Terri and all the other workers were sent home (and to be paid for a full 15-hour shift).  The horrendous terrorist attacks experience was extremely disturbing to Terri for a very long time -- forever!




Terri Van Dyke parading in the famous 1969 "Stonewall Car"
[Photo by Willson Lee Henderson]

Stonewall veterans Rick Rodrigues (left) and Eldon Garrett and the IQKNY's Princess Jenni June Egan surround Terri, waiting in the 1969 "Stonewall Car", at the N.Y.C. 33rd annual Gay Pride Parade line-up on Sunday, June 30, 2002.




 

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Tribute to Terri




In Memoriam:
Terri J. Van Dyke
November 23, 1948 -- November 3, 2003

Wake:  Ahern/Buckley Funeral Home
Manhattan, New York


Obituary:  New York Daily News on Wed. (Nov. 5, 2003) and Thurs. (Nov. 6)
Terri is survived by his father Robert E. Price, his step-mother Lillian Siracuse,
sister Melissa Jean Guidice (of Marietta, Georgia), nephew Paul M. Guidice,
niece Robin M. Guidice, and half-sister Nora 'Dita' Price of Michigan

Viewing at Funeral Home:  Thursday, November 6, 2003 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Terri Tribute Speeches @ 8 p.m.

Willson Lee Henderson (best friend and event host plus S.V.A.)
Robert Elliott Price (dedicated and supportive father)
Lillian Siracuse (wonderful step-mother)
Rev. Pat Bumgartner of MCC (Gay minister with opening prayer)
  Jeremiah Jay Newton (longtime Gay friend and S.V.A.)
 Liz J. Abzug (Bella's Gay daughter and a fave of Terri)
 Dianne 'Di-Yo' Yodice (longtime fag-hag pal)
Antonio 'Tony' Viera (Stonewall pal and S.V.A.)
 Storme DeLarverie (S.V.A. colleague)
 Leigh P. McManus (S.V.A.)
Ray J. McCaffrey (close friend and S.V.A.)
Greg Lambert (representing Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney)
 Electra J. O'Mara (S.V.A.)
 Jenni J. Egan (IQKNY)
Bert Coffman (S.V.A.)
Dr. Mariano Nevarez (Gay psychiatrist)
AnDre Christie (evening healthcare aide)
 plus other friends.... Bill Murawski, Dave West (S.V.A.), Jessica Berke, Carl Manzano, Tim Berryhill, Brooke Lyn, Matthew Samuelson, Will Weder, Lynn Knibb (nurse), Tony Viera, Greg Lambert (Congresswoman Carolina Maloney's Gay liaison), Ramon Bellido (S.V.A.) and Rev. Magora Elmira (S.V.A. chaplain and religious closing)

Floral arrangements were received from:  Terri's parents Robert Price and Lillian Siracuse; Willson, AnDre and Jazzpur (Terri's cat); Leigh McManus (no relation to Jim) and the STONEWALL Veterans' Association; Queen Allyson Ann Allante and the Imperial QUEENS & Kings of New York; Greg Lambert & Will Weder; PRIDE Democrats of New York City; Tony Viera of River Park Towers; and the Village Reform Democratic Club.  

G.L.B.T. News Story:  New York Blade News (Nov. 7)
 "Stonewall Vet Dies:  Terri Van Dyke"

Funeral:  Friday, November 7, 2003 at 12 noon
Ahern/Buckley Funeral Home

Traveling from the funeral home to the cemetery upstate New York in the funeral limousine:  Robert E. Price, Sr. (father), Lillian Siracuse (step-mother), Willson Henderson (fellow SVA-er), Jeremiah Newton (friend and S.V.A.) and Rev. Magora Elmira (chaplain and S.V.A.)

Burial:  Rose Hills Memorial Park, Putnam Valley, New York.




Memorial Card distributed for the SVA's Terri Van Dyke 
 
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New York Daily News Obituary for Terri J. Van Dyke




The referred 'Domestic Partner' is another Stonewall Vet!

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  New York Blade News "Letters" remembering Trailblazer Terri Van Dyke


"A Trailblazer is Remembered" published letters from Willson Henderson and Bill Murawski

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Sympathy Letter for Terri from his favorite Congressmember Carolyn Maloney

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Letter acknowledging loss of Terri from Assemblymember Jonathan Bing

   
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U.S. Senator Hillary Clinton's Sympathy Letter to the S.V.A. for Terri Van Dyke
   
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Tribute on Terri from NYC Gay Parade organizers Heritage of Pride 
[Excerpts taken from the S.V.A. Website and the New York Blade]

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  More Terri Jordan Van Dyke biography will be presented.
 More pictures of TVD will be posted at this S.V.A. webfile.
We welcome any other pix of Terri to be sent to the S.V.A.
When it comes to website input, due to funds, we're slow... but sure!

STONEWALL Veterans' Association
Suite 128
511 Avenue of the Americas
Manhattan, NYC  10011-8410

     


23rd November
2021
Terri's 18th Memorial Birthday

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=====2021:  52nd Anniversary of the Gay Stonewall Rebellion=====
[Friday night, June 27 ~through~ Thursday evening, July 3, 1969, Manhattan, New York City]

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